I wonder if the administration will try to walk back on this statement. Reassurance is one thing – restraint is another.
"reduce pressure on Seoul to take unilateral action,"
To the regime this will appear to be a crack in the Alliance. To political opposition in the South this could be interpreted as an infringement on ROK sovereignty and the continued reign of the "big brother" in the Alliance relationship rather than a mature relations of true Alliance partners. We certainly wanted the north to think the ROK was capable of taking unilateral action in response to a north Korean provocation but most importantly this statement reduced the potential deterrent effect of the B-52's, B-2's, and F-22's and will be interpreted as a lack of resolve on the US' part – e.g., the US is more interested in restraining the ROK than in deterring the north – now the north may interpret that it can continue to push the limits because the US will restrain the ROK from reacting.
V/R
Dave
U.S. Seeks to Prevent Unilateral S.Korean Action
The U.S.' recent show of force around the Korean Peninsula was designed to send a warning to North Korea and "reduce pressure on Seoul to take unilateral action," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Monday.
Carney was explaining why Washington recently announced the deployment in joint exercises with South Korea of hard-hitting weaponry such as B-52 bombers, B-2 stealth bombers, and F-22 fighter jets.
Carney appeared to hint that Washington does not want South Korea to respond in kind to any North Korean provocation.
"Of course, Washington is worried about provocations from Pyongyang. But it is also very worried about the possibility of South Korea taking unilateral action in response and of the situation escalating to the point that the U.S. can't control it," a diplomatic source in Washington said.
Carney was explaining why Washington recently announced the deployment in joint exercises with South Korea of hard-hitting weaponry such as B-52 bombers, B-2 stealth bombers, and F-22 fighter jets.
Carney appeared to hint that Washington does not want South Korea to respond in kind to any North Korean provocation.
"Of course, Washington is worried about provocations from Pyongyang. But it is also very worried about the possibility of South Korea taking unilateral action in response and of the situation escalating to the point that the U.S. can't control it," a diplomatic source in Washington said.
(Continued at the link below)
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